Bingo game frame



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J. W. WIRFEL BINGO GAME FRAME INVENTOR JAME h. Mere- A ORN FIG. I.

Nov. 21, 1950 Filed July 5, 1948 av. WSU J. w. WIRFEL 2,53%929 BINGO GAME FRAME Filed July 3, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JAMES W. M/FF'EL JNVENTOR.

BY jw ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE James Wirfel, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July a, 1948, Serial No.- 36,921 Claims. (01. 116-130) This invention relates to game indicators, and more especially it relates to indicator devices for such games as bingo, lotto, and the like.

As is well known, the game bingo is quite generally played by a relatively large number of participants, and in some cases one participant may operate two or more bingo cards simultaneously. The usual way of recording and marking the called bingo numbers, is to employ a set of individual paper or cardboard markers which are placed over the respectively called bingo numbers. The objection to this method of playing is that the markers being relatively light, are easily displaced on the playing board, and furthermore they substantially obliterate the card number over which they are placed. In most cases the markers are in the form of small plastic discs which because of their lightness and smoothness, very easily slide off the playing board and drop to the floor. Since a considerable quantity of these discs are required by each player, it is not unusual for players to drop these discs and retrieve them from the floor, which of course results in unsanitary playing conditions.

Accordingly one of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a unitary multisection indicating device which can be superposed upon the conventional playing card and which can be readily manipulated to produce a visible indication and record of the numbers as they are being called.-

Anotherobject is to provide a unitary playing mask for a bingo card or the like carrying a plurality of indicator markers which are capable of being moved selectively to two .difierent positions in the mask. In one of these positions the markers are substantially completely invisible, and in the other position they provide a clear indication of the called number on the playing card without materially interfering with the readability of that number.

Another object of this invention is an indicator for bingo games and the like which can be rapidly positioned, repositioned, set, reset, released, and otherwise manipulated. e s

v A further object relates to the novel organization, arrangement and relative location and interconnection of parts which cooperate to provide a durable and easily manipulated marker device for bingo cards and the like.

Other features and advantages not particularly enumerated will become apparent after a consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims.

of seven figures, numbered Figs. 1 to '7 inclusive, one suggested embodiment of the invention is aw Fig. 1 is a top View of my bingo indicator superimposed upon a bingo board. I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View of a plurality or bingo indicators superimposed upon a biiig 'o ar b.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. I

N Fig. 4 is aside view of the device, taken along the line 4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top view of a fragment of the device.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a detail, taken along the line 6--6 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. is a cross-sectional View of a detail taken along the line 'l1 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the device.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The indicating device l0 may comprise two complementary fenestrated frames including the base member ll and the cover member [2 for enclosin the base member ll. Base member I l and cover member 12 may be constructed in any preferred manner and of any selected material. For example they may each be stamped as a unit from sheet material such as metal, or they may be molded in one piece out of any preferred material such as plastic. The dimensions of the opening enclosed by the walls of the frame of the cover member l2 are substantially equal to the overall width and length of the playing surface of a single bingo card. When properly assembled the fenestrated base H and the fenestrated cover l2 Sllbdivide the device Ill into a Series of Small window openings corresponding in number, spac ing and arrangement, to the number, spacing, and arrangement of the playing squares of the conventional bingo card, so that when the indicating device i0 is placed over a bingo card, each playing square of the card is clearly visible through its corresponding small window opening of the indicating device 10. The side walls [3 and the end Walls 15 of the base frame H (see Figs'..6, ;7 and 8) are L-sh a'ped in cross section to define the guide channels l4 and IS. A series of pairs .of h-s'haped strips l8 In the drawings comprising but a single sheet 553 and I Qarrang'ed backto back, and spaced on centers equal to the width of one row of squares delineated upon the conventional bingo card, extend lengthwise between and are secured to the end Walls I5 to form a series of equally spaced partition walls I! adapted to overlie the vertical division lines delineated upon the conventional bingo card. The L-shaped strips I8 and I9 form guide channels 23 and 2I wherein the markers 22 are slidably mounted, the number of markers 22 being equal to the number of small window openings, there being a marker 22 individually associated with each small window opening of the indicating device Ill.

Each marker 22 (Fig. 5), includes a relatively narrow crossbar 23 and a pair of spaced stops 24-2 3. The crossbar 23 is wide enough to bridge one of the window openings and the stops 24-24 are designed to slide freely in the oppositely disposed vertical guide channels formed in the partition. walls II and the side walls I3, such as the guide channels 2! and I (Fig. 7). Each marker 22 accordingly slides freely up and down in the openingof the window with which the said marker is associated. A portion of each crossbar 23 is bent upwardly to form an upstanding tab '25 which projects above the indicating device I for engagement by the fingertip.

The fenestrated cover i2 is provided with a series of horizontally spaced strips 26 extending lengthwise between and secured to the end walls 28 of the cover I2. The strips 26 are spaced so as to register with and overhang both sides of the partition walls IIIl (see Fig. 7), thus retaining the markers 22 within their respective guide channels 22 and 2I. The side and end walls 27 and 28 of the cover I2 overlie the guide channels Id and [6 respectively formed in the sidewalls I3 and end walls I of base frame II, to retain the outside rows of markers 22 in proper position. The cross strips 2929 are secured between the horizontally spaced covering strips 23-26 and the side walls 2I21 of the cover I2 on-centers corresponding to the spacing between the horizontally disposed division lines delineated upon the conventional bingo card. Each cross strip 29 is of angular cross section one arm of said cross strip being wide enough to receive and conceal the narrow crossbar 23 of a marker 22 (Fig. 6). The upstanding tab 25 of each marker 22 projects above and engages the bottom edge of its associated cross strip 29 to limit the upward movement of the marker 22 beneath its said cross strip. The other arm of each cross strip 29 extends into the guide channel (I4, 20, 2|) to form a stop for the leg 24 of the marker positioned above said cross strip. One or more cross braces 3| (Fig. 6) may be attached to the side walls I3 of base frame II in alignment with the horizontally disposed division lines delineated upon the conventional bingo card.

One of the complementary frames, for example the cover frame I2, may be provided with downwardly projecting spur points 30 for penetrating the bingo card to retain the indicating device Ill in correct registry with respect to the card while the game is being played.

. The player provides himself with a plurality of indicating devices I0, and places one of the devices IO over each bingo card in such a manner that all of the playing squares of a particular bingo card 32 are visible through the window openings of its associated indicating device Ill. The central marker 22 of each device IE! is operated to record a free space setting over the freespace subdivision 33 of each bingo card 32 being played. As the game opens, the crossbars 23 of all of the markers 22 are concealed beneath their respective cross strips 29 but with the tabs 25 projecting upwardly above the cross strips. If column indicating symbols (for example the letters B-I-N-G-O) are used, they will be visible above the several vertical rows of windows, and as each indicating symbol and the number associated therewith is called, the player upon observing the called number, draws the upstanding tab 25 of the appropriate marker 22 downwards thus moving the narrow crossbar 23 downwards 'into view to visibly indicate that said number was called. A skillful operator can simultaneously observe a number of bingo cards, and can operate the markers 22 so rapidly,.that he can substantially increase the number of bingo boards played in each game. The ease of observation of marked bingo squares can be accentuated by coloring the strips 22 a bright red color which contrasts with the background of the bingo card. The crossbars 23 of the markers 22 are relatively narrow so that when moved into indicating or marking position they do not obscure the printed numbers upon the bingo card. When any five markers 22 of any indicating device I0, are aligned either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, the player announces the result in the conventional way. At the end of a game each marker 22 can be immediately reset by turning the indicating device In on end and tapping it gently, thus simultaneously restoring all of the operated markers 22 to normal position beneath their respective cross strips 29.

In certain cases bingo playing cards are printed with a series of multi-square playing units directly adjacent each other. Since these playing units are printed on the same card, it is possible to employ two or more of the fenestrated masks described above, and these masks can be placed with their borders directly adjacent each other since the slidable markers, in no case, project outwardly beyond the border of the mask.

While one particular embodiment has been disclosed herein, it will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while the markers 22 are shown as mounted for sliding movement vertically in their respective openings, it will be understood that they can be mounted for sliding movement in a horizontal direction in those openings.

What is claimed is:

1. A unitary pluralized sectional indicator for bingo game cards and the like of the type having uniform and contiguous marked rectangles with the markings centered within each rectangle, comprising, a frame dimensioned to emborder the playing area of the game card, partition members subdividing said frame into a series of smaller frames conforming in number, spacing and contiguity respectively to the number, spacing and contiguit of the individual playing areas of the game card, a series of shiftable markers, there being one such marker slidably mounted in each of said smaller frames, each marker being movable to two positions in one of which it is effectively concealed by one of the partition members of its associated smaller frame and in the other of which it is astride said smaller frame so as to produce a visible indication, said indicator being a separate structural unit for simple overlaying on the bingo card with which it is to be used.

tion on the card while enabling instant removal of the indicator unit from the card.

3. A unitary pluralized window indicator for a bingo game card and the like of the type having uniform and contiguous marked playing squares with the marking centered within each respective square, comprising, a frame dimensioned to enclose the playing squares of the game card, partition walls extending lengthwise and crosswise of said frame to subdivide said opening into a series of smaller openings corresponding in number contiguity and spacing to the number contiquity and spacing of the playing squares of said game card, shiftable markers, one for each playing square and slidably mounted therein, all of said markers being normally concealed by the partition walls and each marker being independently slidable into visible position in its associated opening, said indicator being a separate structural unit for simple overlaying on the bingo :card with which it is to be used.

4. A unitary and readily separable sectional indicator for a bingo card and the like of the type having uniform and contiguous marked rectangles with the markings centered in each respective rectangle, comprising, a frame having a series of uniform rectangular and contiguous windows arranged in parallel rows each of said windows having channelled side walls and a marker slidably mounted in each of said windows each marker having its opposite ends slidably guided by said channelled side walls and having integral extensions to limit the sliding movement of the marker to approximately one-half the width of its associated window, said indicator being a separate structural unit for simple-overlaying on the bingo card with which it is to be used.

5. A unitary plural-window indicator for a bingo card and the like of the type having uniform and contiguous marked rectangles with the markings centered within each rectangle, comprising, a rigid frame having vertical and horizontal cross members subdividing the frame into a plurality of rows of rectangular contiguous windows the top margin and the side margins of each window channelled, a marker member for each window each marker member having a horizontal portion adapted to bridge said window, and a pair of integral vertical legs for limiting the sliding movement of the marker to approximately onehalf the vertical width of its associated window each marker being movable vertically to register with the channel in the said top margin of the window to render it invisible when out of marking position.

JAMES W. WIRFEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,126,373 Emanuel Aug. 9, 1938 2,170,033 Pittinger Aug. 22, 1939 2,230,178 Campbell Jan. 28, 1941 2,322,324 Spitzner June 22, 1943 

